Display stands

ABSTRACT

A display stand  1  for a flexible laminar member  2  such as a poster has a base  3 , an upright  4  and a top cross-member  5 . The laminar member  2  is movable between a storage position, in which it is retracted round a spring-loaded rotatable member  6  in the base  3 , and a display position as shown, in which it is attached to the top cross-member  5 . Means is provided for the torsional force of the spring-loaded rotatable member  6  to be adjusted.

[0001] This invention relates to a display stand for a flexible laminarmember, of the kind in which the laminar member is movable between adisplay position and a storage position in which it is retracted round aspring-loaded rotatable member. The laminar member may for example be aposter.

[0002] In such display stands which are presently on sale, the springwhich acts on the rotatable member normally acts in torsion. The springis attached at one end to the rotatable member and at the other is heldin a housing in which the rotatable member is inserted. The laminarmember is pulled manually from the storage position, which rotates therotatable member against the force in the spring. The spring also actsto retract the laminar member again by rotating the rotatable member inthe opposite direction. The spring is pre-tensioned and is notadjustable. A disadvantage of this construction is that it can beunsafe. The spring is pre-loaded with a high degree of torsional forceso that the display stand can cope with relatively stiff or heavylaminar members. When such a display stand is used with a flexible orlight laminar member, it will be appreciated that when the spring isreleased to retract the laminar member, there is a danger that misplacedfingers could be painfully trapped.

[0003] According to the present invention, a display stand for aflexible laminar member of the kind set forth has a housing in which therotatable member is mounted, the rotatable member being acted on by atorsion spring, and an adjusting means is provided for adjusting thetorsional force of the torsion spring.

[0004] With the display stand according to the invention the spring canbe adjusted to provide a suitable tension to enable safe retraction ofthe laminar member, depending on its stiffness or weight. The displaystand is therefore safer to use.

[0005] A further advantage of the invention is that the laminar memberis replaceable. This is because it is possible to release the tension inthe spring completely in the display stand according to the invention,allowing manipulation of the laminar member when it is fully extended.

[0006] Preferably the torsion spring has one end secured to therotatable member and the other end secured to the adjusting meanscomprising a ratchet member, the ratchet member being movable between afirst position in which it is fixed relative to the housing, and asecond position in which it is rotatable relative to the housing bymeans of a tool introduced through an aperture in the housing.

[0007] Thus, the torsional force of the spring can readily be adjustedwhen the rotatable member is in position in the housing by inserting thetool through the aperture to move the ratchet member into the secondposition and rotating the ratchet member to adjust the spring. Thetorsional force in the spring may be increased in steps by rotating theratchet member in one direction, or released by rotating the ratchetmember in the other direction.

[0008] The ratchet member includes teeth co-operating with a stop on thehousing to allow the ratchet member to rotate in only one direction inthe first position. The ratchet member is moved axially relative to therotatable member between its first and second positions. It ispreferably biassed into its first position by a second spring actingbetween the ratchet member and the housing. The ratchet member has anappropriate formation to enable it to be operated by the tool, which maybe a screwdriver or an Allen key.

[0009] The housing of the display stand preferably forms a base for thedisplay stand. The display stand may also include a support member forsupporting the laminar member in the display position. The supportmember preferably comprises an upright member and a cross-member.

[0010] Preferably the housing contains two spring-loaded rotatablemembers so that, in use, the display stand displays two laminar membersand is a twin-sided display stand.

[0011] The invention also relates to the combination of the displaystand with one or two laminar members.

[0012] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of exampleonly, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a display stand for a flexible laminar member; and

[0014]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through a base of the standshowing a rotatable member inserted in a housing.

[0015] The display stand 1 of FIG. 1 is for a flexible laminar member 2such as a poster. The display stand 1 has a base 3, an upright 4 and atop cross-member 5. The laminar member 2 is movable between a storageposition, in which it is retracted round a spring-loaded rotatablemember 6 in the base 3, and a display position as shown, in which it isattached to the top cross-member 5.

[0016] The rotatable member 6 and its associated mechanism are shown inmore detail in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the base 3 has a pair of housing endcaps 7 on which the rotatable member 6 is mounted. The member 6comprises a hollow cylindrical roller 8 to which the laminar member 2(not shown in FIG. 2) is attached. A bush 9 fits tightly into each endof the roller 8 and forms a cylindrical bearing surface 10 for rotationof the roller 8 on an outer surface of a hollow cylindrical axialextension 11 on a respective housing end cap 7. A slider 12 is alsoaccommodated in the roller 8, and can slide axially in the roller 8, butis constrained to rotate with it. The slider 12 is of stepped outline,with a cylindrical portion 13 fitting the inside of the roller 8, and aportion 14 of smaller diameter and with an end taper 15. One end of atorsion spring 16 fits over the portion 14. The other end of the spring16 fits over a similar part of a ratchet member 17, and a tube 16′encircles the central part of the spring 16 to keep it in place.

[0017] The ratchet member 17 is of stepped cylindrical outline with ablind bore 18 opening towards the slider 12, and a taper 19 at the endadjacent the slider 12, over which the spring 16 fits. The other end ofthe ratchet member 17 is received within an axial extension 11 of theadjacent end cap 7, for axial and rotational movement. The closed end 20of the ratchet member 17 has a slot 21 for a screwdriver (not shown)which can be inserted through a central aperture 22 in the end cap 7,and used to rotate the ratchet member 17.

[0018] At its closed end 20 the ratchet 17 also has dog teeth 23 formedround its periphery, and co-operating with the end cap 7 to form aratchet mechanism allowing rotational movement of the member 17 in onedirection, but preventing such movement in the other direction. Theratchet member 17 is biassed into engagement with the end cap 7 by acompression spring 24 acting between a shoulder 25 at a step in diameterof the ratchet member 17 and a locking ring 26 attached to the axiallyinner end 27 of the end cap extension 11 by a snap fitting. The spring24 urges the ratchet member into engagement with the end cap 7 so thatit is in a first position (as shown) in which it is fixed relative tothe housing end cap 7. However, the ratchet member 17 is movable axiallyagainst the force in the spring 24 into a second position in which it isrotatable relative to the housing end cap 7, and so can alter thetorsional force in the spring 16.

[0019] In use, the mechanism is assembled as shown, and the laminarmember 2 is attached to and rolled up round the roller 8. The assemblyshown in FIG. 2 is inserted in the base of the display stand, with thefree end of the laminar member 2 projecting from the housing. If, onpulling the laminar member 2 out, the torsional force of the spring 16is found to be incorrect, it can be adjusted by inserting a screwdriverthrough the aperture 22 and using the screwdriver to move the ratchetmember 17 against the force in the spring 24, and to rotate the ratchetmember 17. If the spring force is to be increased, the ratchet member 17is rotated in one direction, to wind up the spring 16 in steps dictatedby the ratchet teeth 23. If the spring force is to be decreased, theratchet member 17 is allowed to rotate in the other direction, under theinfluence of the spring 16. It is therefore simple to obtain the correctforce for the spring 16.

[0020] When the laminar member 2 is being moved between the storage anddisplay positions the ratchet member 17 remains fixed relative to thehousing end cap 7, so that the spring 16 then operates as required, onrelative rotation of the slider 12 with roller 8 and the ratchet member17.

1. A display stand for a flexible laminar member in which said laminarmember is movable between a display position and a storage position inwhich it is retracted round a spring-loaded rotatable member mounted ina housing, said rotatable member being acted on by a torsion spring,wherein an adjusting means is provided for adjusting the torsional forceof said torsion spring.
 2. A display according to claim 1, wherein saidtorsion spring has first and second ends, wherein one of said ends issecured to said rotatable member and the other of said ends is securedto said adjusting means comprising a ratchet member, said ratchet memberbeing movable between a first position in which it is fixed relative tosaid housing, and a second position in which it is rotatable relative tosaid housing by means of a tool introduced through an aperture in saidhousing.
 3. A display stand according to claim 2, wherein said ratchetmember has an appropriate formation to enable it to be operated by saidtool.
 4. A display stand according to claim 3, wherein said formation isa slot for a screwdriver.
 5. A display stand according to claim 3,wherein said formation is a slot for an Allen key.
 6. A display standaccording to claim 1, wherein said torsional force in said torsionspring may be increased in steps.
 7. A display stand according to claim2, wherein said ratchet member includes teeth co-operating with a stopformed on said housing.
 8. A display stand according to claim 2, whereina second spring acts on said ratchet member to bias said ratchet memberinto said first position.
 9. A display stand according to claim 2,wherein said ratchet member moves axially relative to said rotatablemember between its first position and its second position.
 10. A displaystand according to claim 1, wherein said housing forms a base for saiddisplay stand.
 11. A display stand according to claim 1, wherein asupport member is provided for supporting said laminar member in saiddisplay position.
 12. A display stand according to claim 11, whereinsaid support member comprises an upright member and a cross-member. 13.A display stand according to claim 1, wherein said housing contains twospring-loaded rotatable members such that said display stand is atwin-sided display stand.
 14. In combination, a display stand accordingto claim 1, with a flexible laminar member.
 15. In combination, adisplay stand according to claim 13, with two flexible laminar members.